This year has already given film fans some incredible pieces of cinema, from superhero epics like Everything, Everywhere All At Once, and the 2020s still has a long time to catch up to the heights of decades of cinema's past. One decade that the 2020s will aspire to be as impactful as is the 1970s, which, according to IMDb, has some of the best films ever.
It's the decade when the blockbuster was born, when the world's greatest franchise from the galaxy far, far away began, when sci-fi proved its potential, and when filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, and Francis Ford Coppola proved themselves to be living legends.
Chinatown (1974)
8.2/10
There are a couple of excellent '70s films sitting on 8.2 on IMDb, including the blockbuster Jaws and Chinatown, which is widely regarded as having one of the greatest screenplays ever written.
Penned by Robert Towne, the film follows Mrs. Mulwray and Detective Jake Gittes, whom she hires to spy on her husband. It is a neo-noir classic, arguably the greatest in the genre, but with help from the performances of Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, the film is far more than just a run-of-the-mill genre piece; it is a piece of cinema still talked about and studied today for its writing and the cruel unfolding of a wonderful story.
The Sting (1973)
8.3/10
Starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman, The Sting is one of a few movies from the '70s that finds itself on IMDb's top 250 with an 8.3 rating and is a critically acclaimed crime drama that will be appreciated by those who watch it for a long time to come.
Directed by George Roy Hill and written by David S. Ward, the film follows Johnny Hooker as he looks to get revenge and steal from the crime boss who had his partner murdered. With seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, it is no surprise to see this film so high up on IMDb's list of '70s flicks. It is both stylish and charming, but at no expense to the story, which is brilliantly crafted by those involved, which undoubtedly helped not only its critical acclaim but its box office successes.
Taxi Driver (1976)
8.3/10
The incomparable Taxi Driver.
That is one helluva decade from the filmmaker, and this film which follows Travis Bickle, an ex-marine and Vietnam war veteran, as he drives through the streets as a New York cabbie, will be many people's favorite '70s film. From start to finish, the film is mesmerizing as Robert De Niro and Scorsese expertly drag us through the downward spiral of Bickle's psyche. With an air-tight script, assured direction, and iconic moments throughout, the movie has a lot to say and is a piece of '70s cinema everybody should go out of their way to see.
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
8.3/10
Stanley Kubrick's controversial dystopian film based on a novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess is a wild viewing experience and regarded by IMDb s as one of the best of the '70s.
Following Alex DeLarge as he is imprisoned for abhorrent crimes and undergoes experimental therapy, A Clockwork Orange has definitely been met with adoration and criticism over the years, but Kubrick's perfectionist, almost obsessive hand can be felt on it. It has become a cult classic, and to those who love it, it is regarded as Kubrick's best work, with its ideological exploration of delinquency and power structures, striking visual style, and iconic images that have been parodied to no end over the past forty years hitting home for many.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
8.5/10
Francis Ford Coppola is responsible for three of the ten best movies of the seventies, according to IMDb, the first coming at the tail end of the decade, Apocalypse Now, which is widely regarded as one of the finest war pictures ever produced.
More than just a war epic, the film is a real psychological exploration and follows Captain Willard during the Vietnam War as he is tasked with killing Colonel Kurtz, who has gone insane in the jungle. It is a truly epic cinematic experience that will have audiences on the edge of their seat as war is showcased by Coppola to truly be hell on Earth. Coppola's direction stars, but a stellar cast and Vittorio Storaro's cinematography also prove to be crucial pieces to the puzzle.
Alien (1979)
8.5/10
One of the greatest and most iconic pieces of sci-fi cinema ever, and Alien is truly brilliant in every aspect, from its harrowing poster to its all-time great heroine in Ellen Ripley to Ridley Scott's expert filmmaking skill.
It sees the crew of Nostromo attacked by an alien after intercepting and investigating a distress signal. For sci-fi and horror fans alike, this film is as must-see as they come. It perfectly blends both genres helping the movie become a modern classic as well as one of the decade's best works.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
8.6/10
Star Wars is the biggest, most successful, and one of the greatest franchises of all time, and it all began in 1977 when George Lucas' widely doubted vision resulted in one of the most significant landmarks in the history of cinema.
Following Luke Skywalker as he, his Jedi mentor, and a band of rebels look to destroy the Death Star and take down the tyrannical Empire, it is fantasy at its very best. It is not only a brilliant movie on its own but acts as the first chapter of one of the best trilogies of all time. The imagination packed into this movie is unmatched, and so too are the fantastic practical effects and sense of adventure it gives fans.
One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest (1975)
8.7/10
Jack Nicholson had quite a decade in the seventies, establishing himself as a powerhouse and racking up a plethora of awards, including his Best Actor win for this terrific film based on the book of the same name by Ken Kesey.
Directed by Miloš Forman, One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest follows Randall McMurphy as he gets himself put in a ward for the mentally unstable. This is one of only three movies to win all of the 'Big Five' Oscars and has been placed on a slew of 'Best Movies' lists over the years as it explores ideas such as conformity and freedom, as well as the human psyche.
The Godfather: Part II (1974)
9.0/10
Francis Ford Coppola's continuation of this iconic mafia saga gets debated by some film fans as being better than the one that came before it, or at the very least improving its originator with many believing it to be one of, if not the greatest sequel/prequel ever.
With powerhouse performances from the likes of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, The Godfather: Part II follows two stories, that of new Don Michael Corleone and a prequel storyline focusing on the rise of Vito. It is another epic drama that, while undoubtedly slow through the middle, is well crafted, and a fitting follow up to what many consider to be one of the best films ever.
The Godfather (1972)
9.2/10
There is only one film that IMDb s see as being better than 1972's The Godfather, that being The Shawshank Redemption, and these films will likely battle it out for that top spot in the minds of fans for a long time.
The iconic movie follows Vito Corleone as he prepares to hand over his mafia empire to his son Michael, and with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino at their very best, the film is so often intensely gripping. Based on the novel by Mario Puzo, who also wrote the screenplay, the film is viewed as Francis Ford Coppola's greatest cinematic achievement, his true magnum opus. Even if not considered the greatest, nobody can question how influential this movie is, particularly in the realm of crime and gangster films.
